Machine for providing intermittent cervical traction



y 2, 1955 K. c. ROBINSON 2,712,820

MACHINE FOR PROVIDING INTERMITTENT CERVICAL TRACTION Filed Dec. 1, 19502 SheetsSheet l 20 I] 26 INVENTOR.

iii 11y K170 11150]? ATTORNEYS July 12, 1955 K. c. ROBINSON 2,712,820

MACHINE FOR PROVIDING INTERMITTENT CERVICAL TRACTION Filed Dec. 1, 19502 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent MACHENE FQR .iIiOVIf-ENGINTERMETTENT CERVICAL TRACTEGN Kelly C. Robinson, Greenwich, ApplicationBeccrnher 1, 195% Serial No. 198,616

6 Claims. (Ci. 1 3-75) The invention relates to a machine for aiding inthe reducing of nerve occlusion and relaxing of the muscles of the neckand body of a patient receiving manipulation, massage and the like. Theeffectiveness of the treatment is materially aided if the patient iscompletely relaxed. Muscular relaxation and nerve release are secured byslowly raising and lowering the patient while securely supported fromthe head and neck, preferably timed approximately at the breathing rateof the patient. The invention herein provides a machine for securing ageneral relaxation of muscles and nerves.

It is an object of the invention to construct a machine which raises andlowers the body of the patient while from the head and neck with thepatient seated thereby relaxing or aiding in the relaxation of themuscles of the patient.

Another object is to construct a machine for relaxing the body musclesand nerves by raising and lowering the patients body while supportedfrom the head either by raising the head or lowering the seat, and whichmachine may be adjusted for length of stroke and/or speed of 3.7

the raising and lowering operation.

GLher objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating some preferred embodiments thereof in which:

Figure 1 is a detailed view of the suspension means for the patient;

Figure 2 is a view of a machine with the driving motor and oscillatingmechanism underneath a chair in which the patient is to be seated;

Figure 3 is a view of a machine constructed to raise and lower the chairor stool upon which the patient is seated.

Figure 4 is a view of a portable type of machine and using a hydraulicdriving mechanism; and

Figure 5 shows a means for varying the stroke of oscillation for ahydraulic system.

The patient is supported from the head and neck while the machine eitherraises and lowers the head suspension means or the seat upon which thepatient is seated during the massage or manipulation. The suspensionmechanism or means for the patient includes a collar which passes aroundthe patients neck comfortably and suspends or the patient during therelaxing oscillation. The collar may be of any suitable constructionthat illus trated includes a mandible pad 11 which is received under thechin of the patient. It may have stiffening plates 12, such as of metal,to each of which a strap 13 is attached. Preferably each strap isprovided with a buckle 14 for adjusting the same to the patients neck.The other end of the strap 14 is attached to an occipital pad 15 whichreceives the back of the patients head. The occipital pad may havestiffening plates 16, such as of metal, secured thereto.

The collar is supported in any suitable manner such as by buccal straps19 which are secured to the collar and particularly to their respectivemetal plates 12 such as by III) oscillation.

. be secured in any suitable manner or by rivets 20. The straps carry aring 21 to which are secured a collar strap 22. These straps are shownas relatively long so as to pass above the patients head. One strap maycarry a snap fastener 23 for quick release thereof that illustratedincluding a supporting strap 23 which may have a buckle 29 foradjustment of the length there of, the strap passing over a dowel or pin30 carried by the suspension arm. A tension spring 31 keeps the collarengaging the patients chin and head.

The suspension arm 26 is mounted in any suitable fashion and preferablyto permit pivoting thereto in at least one direction. For greaterfreedom, however, the suspension arm 26 is mounted for universalpivoting which is provided by a ball socket 33 carried centrally of thearm which receives a ball 34 carried by a rod 35.

While the patient is supported from the suspension raised and loweredabout 2 /2 inches either by raising and lowering the suspension means orby but preferably it is at the breathing rate of the patient.

The lower ends of the rods are connected for oscillating the rodsvertically and preferably the means is adjustable for varying the amountor extent of The means for adjusting the length of the stroke may takemany forms that illustrated including an arm 44 carried by each end of ashaft 45 journaled in the chair frame. The arm carries a crank pin 46which is adjustable along the arm and thereby adjusts the length of thestroke. A connecting rod 47 connects the crank pin with the rod 39.

The shaft 45 is driven by a suitable motor 59 that shown being anelectric motor having speed change means of any form that shown being aspeed change pulley 51, so that the speed of oscillation may be variedas desired.

rate of the patient.

Figure 3 shows a form of construction in which the suspension mechanismor means, the arm 26 and straps 28 thereof being shown, are attached toa frame 54 carried on a column or rod 55 which is carried by a base 56.The base carries an hydraulic cylinder 57 which receives an hydraulicplunger or piston 58 on which a seat or seat mechanism for the patientis carried. In this construction the seat is oscillated vertically andthe suspension means is stationary in order to stretch and relax themuscles of the neck and body. The extent of oscillation is insufiicientto remove or raise the patient from the seat. The vertical oscillationof the seat or seat mechanism may any suitable means such as thatillustrated in Fig. 4 being an hydraulic pump or mechanism 67 connectedby a flexible tube 69 which supplies and withdraws fluid from anhydraulic motor formed by the plunger 58 and cylinder 57. This hydraulicpump may have suitable speed change means there being illustrated anadjustable pulley 51.

A lighter and more portable form of unit is shown in Y may beaccomplished '5 including an hydraulic motor 'mode of operation,

which the suspension means is secured to an hydraulic motor formed by apiston 62 in an hydraulic cylinder 63 carried by a supporting arm 64 ofa frame supported by a column 65 and base 66. An hydraulic pumping unit67 ofsuitable construction is connected withthe hydraulic motor orcylinder by flexible tubing 69 to supply liquid to and withdraw liquidfrom the cylinder so that the suspension means is raised and lowered. Aspring 68 may be used to retract the piston in all of the hydraulicmotors.

The variation or adj in many ways that shown in Figure 70 connected withan arm 71 the end of which is connected with the rod 35 of thesuspension means. A movableor adjustable fulcrurn72 is provided for thearm, the movement of which may be secured such as by a rack 73 carriedby the frame 74 and a gear 75. meshing with the rack and carried by acarriage 76 which also carries the mcvable'fulcrum 72, Bars 77 engagingthe underside of the rack 73 and the gear 75 supports the carriage uponthe rack. The hydraulic motor 70 has a fixed stroke and by shifting thefulcrum 72 'towards the bar-35 the stroke of the latter Figure 4 in isshortened. The stroke varying mechanism of Figure 5 may be used with orsubstituted for the construction of Figures 2, 3 and 4.

In the constructions illustrated a suspension means or mechanism and aseat or seat mechanism is provided. Means is connected with one of thesemechanisms for oscillating the same up and down thereby aiding in therelaxation of the body and neck muscles of a patient receivingtreatment. The oscillating means may take many forms there being shownboth mechanical and hydraulic means for this purpose. In the hydraulicform of construction the os'cfllating means includes the hydraulic pumpandrits electric motor'as well as the hydraulic motor. The speed ofoscillation may be varied by utilizing a variable speed motor with orwithout other speed adjusting means such as the variable speed pulleyshown.

The invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in a machinefor freeing nerve occlusion and relaxing body and neck muscles. It isunderstood that various modifications in structure, as well as changesin assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilledin the art, especially afterv benefiting from/the clinical teachings ofan invention. Hence, it will be understood that this disclosure isillustrative of preferred means of embodying the invention in usefulform by explaining the construction, operation and advantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A relaxing machine comprising a frame; suspension means carried bythe frame and hanging downwardly therefrom including a suspension arm,strap means attached to the suspension arm at spaced pointsthereustmentof the stroke of operation and mounted in the on, a collarattached to the strap means and means mounting the suspension means forvertical up and down movement; and oscillating means connected with thesuspension means to raise and lower the same at a rate such as between 3and 40 oscillations per minute and approximately two and a half inches;the suspension means and oscillating means being located to leave anunobstructed space at the rear of the collar, the strap means includinga strap attached at its ends to each side of the collar at spaced pointsthereonand having a mid portion extending upwardly, and a slipconnection between the mid portion'of 'each strap and the suspensionarm.

2. A relaxing machine comprising a frame; suspension means carried bythe frame and hanging downwardly therefrom including a suspension arm,strap means attached to the suspension arm at spaced points thereon, acollar attached to the strap means and means mounting the suspensionmeans for vertical up and-down movement; and oscillating means connectedwith the suspension means to raise and lower the same at a rate such asbetween 3 and 40 oscillations per minute and approximately two and ahalf inches; the suspension means and oscillating means being located toleave an unobstructed space at the rear of the collar, a traction beamcarrying the suspension means, rods carrying the traction beam frame forvertical movement, and the oscillatingmeans being connected with therods.

3. A suspension means to receive the head of a patient comprising acollar to engage the chin and back of the head of a patient, a pair ofcollar straps connected with the collar, an arm having two ends andeachcarrying an easily slidable cylindrical. connection over which acollar strap passes and 'means to'support the arm.

4. A suspension means as in claim 3 in which the means to support thearm includes a universal connection at the midpoint of the arm.

5. A suspension means as in claim 3 including a supporting straycarrying the slidablecylindrical connection and connecting each end ofthe arm with the collar strap, and the means to support the arm includesa universal connection at the midpoint of the arm.

6. A suspension means as. in claim 5 including a tension spring betweeneach end of the arm and the slidable cylindrical connection.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 761,504Kleinbach --.4 May 31, 1904 891,678 Downey June 23, 1908 1,205,649Miller Nov. 21, 1916 1,285,510 Wehle NOV. 19, 1918 1,347,913 Rink July27, 1920 1,348,896 Riesland Aug. 10, 1920 1,786,047 Wilcox Dec. 23, 19302,315,997 Ginsberg Apr. 6, 1943 2,633,124 1953 Yellin Mar. 31,

